6 months, (almost) 40 lbs gone

6 months, 40 lbs. It was actually a little over 40 lbs, but I had a bit of a backslide in April, but feel like I'm really getting back on track. So I'll round up. 40 pounds doesnít sound incredibly impressive, there are people who have lost double that amount in the same time. But Iím pretty thrilled.

Mostly, that Iím working my plan after 6 months (meaning on plan, I didnít find 3fc until about a month and a half into it). Iíve had my slips Ė April has been particularly tough for me for a lot of reasons. But Iím still here and working my way back down.

Just over a year ago, I was at Disneyland with my son (he was 4 at the time). We did a lot physically but even so, I was aware that it was a lot less than what I could have done if I hadnít been that size. And we did stuff like ride the train a lot, which made him happy but was mostly because I needed a chance to sit down! While I was there, sitting on the train, I had this thought that I didnít have to be one of those amazing people who loses 100 lbs in a year. (And I do consider them amazing!) But I could lose 25 lbs a year for the next 4 years, and Iíd still be where I wanted to be and be living the life I wanted to live, for myself and my child.

It still took me another 6 months before I was ready. On November 2, 2009, I started. At first, I just focused on making better food choices. Then I pulled out the food scale and fired up my old Fitday account and started weighing and journaling my food. A few weeks later, I bought a Wii for my son and me and began to incorporate more regular physical activity.

And it hasnít been that quickly, but the weight has been coming off (well, most of the time! lol!) And even when Iíve started to slip and head back in the wrong direction, Iím stopping myself and saying Not This Time. Iím not expecting perfection but I refuse to keep going backwards. Because this is less about the number on the scale and more about establishing healthy habits that I can sustain for the rest of my life.

And as for my original thought about 100 lbs in 4 years - well, it's a year later, and 40 lbs is gone. I don't know exactly what the scale will say in another 6 months, or in 6 months after that. But I know that I am committed to this way of life, and whether I'm at a final goal or not, I'll be doing the right things. As I posted in another thread, I'm changing my life - the weight loss is just coming along for the ride!

2011(ish) and I didn't understand:Alice came to a fork in the road. "Which road do I take?" she asked.
"Where do you want to go?" responded the Cheshire cat.
"I don't know," Alice answered.
"Then," said the cat, "it doesn't matter."
~ Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland 2015
I'm making a plan & working that plan. I have direction & discipline! Who knew it was possible?

You set a goal of 25lbs a year and did 40 in 6 months? Why shouldn't you be thrilled?? That's a fantastic accomplishment, you've outdone your expectations and then some keep it up!!

I wouldn't say that I set 25 lbs a year as a goal - it was more the concept that I could do this slowly and take as long as I needed to take, and still get there in the end. Once I've been actively working on this, I do aspire to get there a little bit more quickly, although still not on a specific timetable, as I've found those don't work that well for me.

(I am keeping my Summer Onederland Challenge banner though - I figure that if I get there any time this summer, even if not by June 21, I'll consider that a success! lol!)

PeanutsMom - 40 pounds in 6 months is really good! Congrats! And celebrate that! Yes there are people who lose it faster, but there are also people who lose it slower. I think you are doing great, you have such a great mind-set, that alone is something to celebrate Keep up the great work

WAY TO GO! I think 40 lbs in 6 months is great! When I started in Jan my goal has been 5 lbs a month. Which to most people is nothing but in 6 months my thought was i'd be 30 lbs lighter than I was when i started. Plus life is always going to throw you curve balls, if I have a bad day I know i won't give up because I can fix it the next couple. I'm slightly a head of my goals. I could only hope to lose that much in 6 months! Congrats!

I don't want to make it sound like I'm not happy with how far I've come, I think I'm just a little bit caught in the trap of assuming larger, faster losses are better. I do think any loss is good, and the greatest one is the one that stays off!

That is awesome! You made up your mind and you did it, and that's so inspiring for those of us who are struggling.
I'd love to hear what kind of workout you're doing on the WiiFit - I haven't really figured out what works - the hula hooping doesn't really burn calories for me. Definitely let me know..

I'm proud to be a member of a group that has people like you to inspire me. To still be following this lifestyle in six months, a year, two years, ten years, is the ultimate goal for all of us, I think. You are showing that it is possible, and that even if there are a few speedbumps along the way to slow us down, we don't stop moving toward our goals of a healthy life.